Portable blender set

ABSTRACT

A portable blender includes a handle having at least one first attachment structure, an activation button, and a power activation member positioned for mechanical engagement with the activation button and a power switch. The blender also includes a container body with at least one second attachment structure. The first attachment structure and second attachment structure are configured to engage each other to attach the handle to the container body and to disengage each other to detach the handle from the container body. The blender further includes a container base configured for detachable engagement with the container body. In one configuration, the blender set includes a motor subunit configured for detachable engagement with the container base, and a power subunit configured for detachable engagement with the motor subunit. In another configuration, the blender includes a motor subunit configured for detachable engagement with the container base, and a power subunit included in the handle.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a divisional application of utility patentapplication Ser. No. 15/365,897 filed in the United States Patent andTrademark Office on Nov. 30, 2016, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below in itsentirety and for all applicable purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to appliances for mixing fooditems into beverages, and more particularly, to a portable blender setthat includes various components that may be assembled to form differentconfigurations of blenders, each adaptable for portable use.

BACKGROUND

Traditional blenders are large, heavy kitchen appliances that arepowered through a connection to an electrical power outlet. Because ofthese physical characteristics and electrical power requirements,traditional blenders are not easily transportable and have limited useoutside of the kitchen environment. Furthermore, traditional blendersare not modular in nature. That is, they cannot be disassembled andreassembled into different configurations appropriate for different usesor users.

It would be desirable to have a compact, lightweight, easilytransportable blender that is capable of operating independent of anelectrical power outlet. It would also be desirable to have a compact,lightweight, easily transportable blender that is capable of beingassembled into different configurations. Embodiments of such a portableblender are described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the apparatus and/or methods in accordance withembodiments of the disclosure are now described, by way of example only,and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals identify similar components throughout:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of various components of a portable blenderset, which may be assembled to form various configurations of a portableblender.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a portable blender assembled fromcomponents of the portable blender set of FIG. 1, which includes acontainer unit and a motor-power unit which are detachable from eachother, wherein the container unit has a detachable handle.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrations of the lower portion of the portableblender of FIG. 2, with the motor-power unit detached from the containerunit. FIG. 3 is from a perspective showing the top of the motor-powerunit, while FIG. 4 is from a perspective showing the bottom of thecontainer unit.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrations of the lower portion of the portableblender of FIG. 2, with a power subunit and motor subunit of themotor-power unit detached from each other. FIG. 5 is from a perspectiveshowing the top of the power subunit, while FIG. 6 is from a perspectiveshowing the bottom of the motor subunit.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the container unit of the portable blenderof FIG. 2, including a container body, a detachable handle attached tothe container body, and a lid secured to the top of the container body.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the upper portion of the container unit ofFIG. 7, with the lid removed from the container body.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are illustrations of the portable blender of FIG. 2,from different perspectives and with the container body not shown toillustrate components that control the operation of the blender.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are illustrations of components associated withthe detachable handle of FIG. 2 that control the operation of theblender.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of components associated with the containerunit and the motor-power unit of FIG. 2 that control the operation ofthe blender.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section illustration of the lower region of theportable blender set of FIG. 2, showing components of the container unitand the motor-power unit that control the operation of the blender.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the portable blender of FIG. 2.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the portable blender set of FIG. 2 withthe detachable handle removed from the container body.

FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 are a series of illustrations of the container unitdepicting different stages of removal of the detachable handle from thecontainer body.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a portable blender assembled from thecomponents of the portable blender set of FIG. 1, which includes acontainer unit and a motor-power unit which are detachable from eachother, wherein the container unit has a detachable insert in place of ahandle.

FIG. 19 is an illustration of the portable blender set of FIG. 18 withthe detachable insert removed from the container body.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a portable blender including a motorsubunit and a container unit having a detachable handle with a powersubunit for powering the motor.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are illustrations of the portable blender of FIG. 20with portions of the container unit, the motor subunit, and the handlenot shown to illustrate components that control the operation of theblender.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are illustrations of the lower portion of the portableblender as shown in FIG. 21A, showing the electrical interconnectionbetween the power subunit of the handle and the motor subunit.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of the portable blender of FIG. 20.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basicunderstanding of some exemplary embodiments. This summary is not anextensive overview and is not intended to identify key or essentialelements or delineate the scope of the embodiments disclosed throughoutthe present Specification and its appended Claims.

In one embodiment, a portable blender set includes a handle having atleast one first attachment structure, an activation button, and a poweractivation member positioned for mechanical engagement with each of theactivation button and a power switch. The blender set also includes acontainer body with at least one second attachment structure. The atleast one first attachment structure and at least one second attachmentstructure are configured to engage each other to attach the handle tothe container body and to disengage each other to detach the handle fromthe container body. The blender set further includes a container baseconfigured for detachable engagement with the container body. In oneconfiguration, the blender set further includes a motor subunitconfigured for detachable engagement with the container base, and apower subunit configured for detachable engagement with the motorsubunit. In this configuration, the motor subunit includes the powerswitch and attachment of the handle through engagement of the firstattachment structure and the second attachment structure positions,e.g., aligns, the power activation member for mechanical engagement withthe power switch through one or more intervening mechanical structuresincluded in one or more of the container base and the motor subunit. Inanother configuration, the blender set further includes a motor subunitconfigured for detachable engagement with the container base, and apower subunit that is included in the handle. In this configuration, thehandle includes the power switch and attachment of the handle throughengagement of the first attachment structure and the second attachmentstructure establishes an electrical engagement, e.g., interconnection,between the power subunit and the power switch in the handle and themotor subunit.

In another embodiment, a portable blender includes a motor-power unitthat includes a power switch configured to transition between an onstate during which the blender is on, and an off state during which theblender is off. The on state of the power switch may correspond to theswitch being closed, while the off state may correspond to the switchbeing opened. The blender further includes a container unit removablycoupled to the motor-power unit. The container unit includes adetachable handle with a handle activation button configured totransition between a first state and a second state, and a poweractivation member aligned for mechanical engagement with the handleactivation button at a first end and the power switch at a second end.The first state of the handle activation button may correspond to thebutton being pressed, while the second state may correspond to thebutton being released. The mechanical engagement of the power activationmember with the power switch and the handle activation button is suchthat a transition of the handle activation button from the first stateto the second state causes a transition of the power switch. Forexample, a transitioning of the handle activation button from a releasedstate to a pressed state may cause the power activation member to closethe power switch to thereby turn the blender on. A subsequenttransitioning of the handle activation button from a released state to apressed state may cause the power activation member to open the powerswitch to thereby turn the blender off.

In yet another embodiment, a portable blender includes a power subunitunit, a motor subunit, and a container unit removably coupled to themotor subunit. The container unit includes a container body and adetachable handle removably coupled to the container body. The portableblender further includes a power safety mechanism at least partiallyassociated with the container unit, and a power activation mechanismthat is also at least partially associated with the container unit. Thepower safety mechanism, which may include a safety switch and one ormore mechanically engageable structures, is configured to transitionbetween an enabled state during which the blender may be turned on, anda disabled state during which the blender cannot be turned on. To thisend, the one or more mechanically engageable structures may be arrangedto engage the safety switch to toggle the safety switch between open andclosed states. The power activation mechanism, which may include a poweractivation button, a power switch, and one or more mechanicallyengageable structures, is configured to transition between an on stateduring which the blender in on, provided the power safety mechanism isin the enabled state, and an off state during which the blender is off.To this end, the power activation button and the one or moremechanically engageable structures may be arranged to engage the powerswitch to toggle the power switch between open and closed states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, only certain exemplaryembodiments of the present invention are shown and described, by way ofillustration. As those skilled in the art would recognize, the inventionmay be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed asbeing limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The description anddrawings merely illustrate the principles of various embodiments. Itwill thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able todevise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described orshown herein, embody the principles herein and in the claims and fallwithin the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, all examplesrecited herein are principally intended expressly to be only forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principlesof the embodiments, and are to be construed as being without limitationto such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, allstatements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments, as wellas specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalentsthereof.

In the context of the present specification, when an element is referredto as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the otherelement or be indirectly on the other element with one or moreintervening elements interposed there between. Also, in the context ofthe present specification, when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” or “attached” to another element, it can bedirectly connected or coupled or attached to the other element or beindirectly connected or coupled or attached to the other element withone or more intervening elements interposed there between. Also, when anelement is referred to as being in “engagement” with another element, itcan be in direct engagement or contact with the other element, or inindirect engagement or contact with the other element with one or moreintervening elements interposed there between.

As stated above, traditional blenders are large, heavy kitchenappliances that are powered through a connection to an electrical poweroutlet. Because of these physical characteristics and electrical powerrequirements, traditional blenders are not easily transportable and havelimited use outside of the kitchen environment. Disclosed below is ablender set that includes various parts that may be selected andassembled to form different configurations of a portable blender. Eachof which is compact, lightweight, easily transportable, and capable ofoperating independent of an electrical power outlet.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of various components of a portable blenderset 100, which may be selected and assembled to form variousconfigurations of a portable blender. For description purposes, thecomponents of the portable blender set 100 may be separated intodifferent groups based on their functionality. To that end, thosecomponents of the portable blender set of FIG. 1 that generally functionto contain or hold food items are referred to as “container components”,while those components related to the operation of the blender arereferred to as “power components.”

The container components include a container body 102, a bladedcontainer base 104, a bladeless container base 106, a lid 108, a handle110, and an insert 112. These components of the portable blender set 100may be assembled to form different configurations of a container unitfor holding food items for processing. For example, as shown in FIG. 2,a container unit 202 having a handle 110 may be assembled if the user ofthe blender set would find it convenient to have a handle with which tohold the container unit. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, a containerunit 202 having insert 112 in place of a handle may be assembled if theuser of the blender set would prefer to hold the container unit bygripping the container body 102. In other variations, the container unit202 may include a bladed container base 104 for purposes of blendingbulky food items, such as fruits, vegetables, and ice, into a beverage.Alternatively, the container unit 202 may include a bladeless containerbase 106 for purposes of mixing or stirring a beverage. In one exampleembodiment, the assembled container unit 202 has a diameter at the topof approximately 3.25 inches, a diameter at the top of approximately2.75 inches, a height of approximately 7 inches, and a capacity of about16.5 fluid ounces.

The container components of the portable blender set 100 are easilyassembled through rotational coupling or press fitting. To this end,each of the bladed container base 104 and the bladeless container base106 include a threaded region that may be mechanically coupled to acomplementary threaded region at the bottom 118 of the container body102. The container base 104, 106 and container body 102, are securedtogether by rotation to form a seal (e.g., a watertight seal) betweenthe components. The lid 108 may be mechanically coupled to the top 120of the container body 102 by press fitting or rotational coupling.Details of the components of the container unit 202 are furtherdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

Continuing with FIG. 1, the power components of the portable blender set100 include a motor subunit 114 and a power subunit 116. Thesecomponents of the portable blender set 100 may be assembled to form amotor-power unit for operating the portable blender. An example of amotor-power unit 208 is shown in FIG. 2. In one example embodiment, themotor-power unit has a maximum diameter of approximately 3.0 inches anda height of approximately 3.2 inches. These dimensions allow for themotor-power unit 208 to fit in a standard sized cup holder of anautomobile.

The power components of the portable blender set 100 are easilyassembled through rotational coupling. To this end, the motor subunit114 may be mechanically coupled to the power subunit 116 by rotation andinterlocking of respective interlocking members. The motor subunit 114and power subunit 116 include electrical contacts that are electricallycoupled upon mechanical coupling of the motor subunit 114 and the powersubunit 116. The electrical coupling provides power from the powersubunit 116 to a motor of the motor subunit 114. The interlockingmembers and electrical contacts of these components are furtherdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a portable blender 200 assembled from thecomponents of the portable blender set 100 of FIG. 1, to form a blenderthat includes a container unit 202 with a handle 110 and a bladedcontainer base 104. The handle 110 includes an activation button 204that is mechanically coupled with a power activation member (not shown)that extends along the sidewall 206 of the container body 102. The poweractivation member, in turn, is mechanically coupled with a power switchof the motor-power unit 208 for turning the blender on and off. Theconfiguration and operation of the handle activation button 204, thepower activation member, and the power switch are further describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 9-13. The bladed container base 104includes a blade mixer 210 for blending or mixing food.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrations of the lower portion of the portableblender 200 of FIG. 2, with the motor-power unit 208 detached from thecontainer unit 202. FIG. 3 is from a perspective showing the top of themotor-power unit 208, while FIG. 4 is from a perspective showing thebottom of the container unit 202. With reference to FIG. 3, the motorsubunit 114 includes several interlocking members 302 positioned aroundthe upper perimeter 304 of the motor subunit. The bladed container base104 includes a corresponding number of interlocking members 306positioned around the perimeter 308 of the bladed container base. Therespective interlocking members 302, 306 are configured to engage eachother upon rotational assembly of the container unit 202 and themotor-power unit 208 to thereby secure the units together.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the top of a mechanical structure,referred to as a power switch rod 310, is exposed at the top surface 312of the motor subunit 114. The power switch rod 310 extends through thetop of the housing 314 of the motor subunit 314 and aligns with a powerswitch (not shown) of motor subunit 114. The top of a mechanicalstructure, referred to as a safety switch rod 320, may also be exposedat the top surface 312 of the motor subunit 114. The safety switch rod320 extends through the top of the housing 314 of the motor subunit 314and aligns with a safety switch (not shown) of motor subunit 114. Theinteraction and operation of the power switch rod 310 and the powerswitch, and the safety switch rod 320 and the safety switch are furtherdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 11-13.

With reference to FIG. 4, a mechanical structure, referred to as a powerpush pin 402, extends through a hole (not shown) in the container base104. The power push pin 402 is surrounded by a spring (not shown in FIG.4, but is shown in FIG. 11) and is configured to transition between anextended position where a tip portion 408 of the power push pin projectsdownward from the bottom 404 of the container base, and a retractedposition where the tip portion 408 is substantially flush with thebottom 404 of the container base. The power push pin 402 is positionedalong the perimeter of the bottom 404 of the container base 104, suchthat upon complete rotational engagement of the container unit 202 andthe motor-power unit 208, the tip portion 408 of the power push pin isaligned with the top of the power switch rod 310 of the motor subunit114.

When the power push pin 402 and power switch rod 310 are aligned, thetip portion 408 of the power push pin is positioned adjacent to thepower switch rod, and is thus capable of engaging the power switch rod.The power push pin 402 may have an associated biasing member, e.g.,spring, that biases the power push pin away from and out of directengagement with the power switch rod 310. Accordingly, upon applicationof a force to the power push pin 402 that is sufficient to overcome thebiasing force of the biasing member, the power push pin 402 engages thepower switch rod 310. Likewise, in the absence of such force, the powerpush pin is biased away from, and does not engage, the power switch rod310.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, a mechanical structure, referred toas a safety push pin 410, extends through a hole (not shown) in thecontainer base 104. The safety push pin 410 is surrounded by a spring(not shown in FIG. 4, but is shown in FIG. 11) and is configured totransition between an extended position where a tip portion 412 of thesafety push pin projects downward from the bottom 404 of the containerbase, and a retracted position where the tip portion 412 issubstantially flush with the bottom 404 of the container base. Thesafety push pin 410 is positioned along the perimeter of the bottom 404of the bladed container base 104, such that upon complete rotationalengagement of the container unit 202 and the motor-power unit 208, thetip portion 412 of the safety push pin is aligned with the top of thesafety switch rod 320 of the motor subunit 114.

When the safety push pin 410 and safety switch rod 320 are aligned, thetip portion 412 of the safety push pin is positioned adjacent to thesafety switch rod, and is thus capable of engaging the power switch rod.The safety push pin 410 may have an associated biasing member, e.g.,spring, that biases the power push pin away from and out of directengagement with the safety switch rod 320. Accordingly, upon applicationof a force to the safety push pin 410 that is sufficient to overcome thebiasing force of the biasing member, the safety push pin 410 engages thesafety switch rod 320. Likewise, in the absence of such force, the powerpush pin is biased away from, does not engage, the safety switch rod310.

Returning to FIG. 3, the motor subunit 114 includes a rotor 316 at alocation above the top surface 312 of the motor subunit. The rotor 316is coupled to a motor (not shown) within the housing 314 of the motorsubunit 114 and rotates upon activation of the motor. With reference toFIG. 4, the container base 104 includes a clutch 406 at a locationrecessed relative to the bottom of the container base 404. The clutch406 is coupled to the bladed mixer 210. Upon engagement of the containerunit 202 and the motor-power unit 208, the rotor 316 of the motorsubunit 114 aligns with the clutch 406 so that the grooves of the rotorand grooves of the clutch are engaged. Accordingly, upon activation ofthe motor, the rotor 316 and clutch 406 rotate together, to therebyrotate the bladed mixer 210.

With reference to FIG. 3, the motor subunit 114 includes an alternateactivation button 318. The alternate activation button 318 issubstantially flush with the outer wall of the housing 314 and isactivated by pushing the button inward relative to the outer wall.Because the alternate activation button 318 is flush with the outer wallof the housing 314, the button will not be activated by thecircumferential wall of an automobile cup holder when the blender isplaced in the holder. The button 318 is aligned to mechanically engagewith an alternate power switch of the motor-power unit 208 for turningthe blender on and off. The configuration and operation of the alternateactivation button 318 and the alternate power switch are furtherdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrations of the lower portion of the portableblender 200 of FIG. 2, with the power subunit 116 detached from themotor subunit 114. FIG. 5 is from a perspective showing the top of thepower subunit 116, while FIG. 6 is from a perspective showing the bottomof the motor subunit 114. With reference to FIG. 5, the motor subunit114 includes several interlocking members 502 positioned around thelower perimeter 504 of the motor subunit. The power subunit 116 includesa housing 506 and a power source 508 located within the housing 506.Interlocking members 510 are positioned around the perimeter of theinside wall of the housing. The respective interlocking members 502, 510are configured to engage each other upon rotational assembly of thepower subunit 116 and the motor subunit 114 to thereby secure the unitstogether.

The power source 508 may include one or more disposable batteries orrechargeable batteries. Access to the batteries may be obtained througha removable bottom panel 606 of the power subunit 116. The power subunit116 may also include an electrical port (not shown) for connecting acable, such as a micro USB cable, for purposes of recharging thebatteries or powering the blender from an external battery, e.g., a carbattery. The portable blender may also be directly powered by anexternal power supply electrically coupled to the blender through theport.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, a pair of electrical contact dimples512 are located on the top surface 514 of the power source 508. Theelectrical contact dimples 512 are electrically coupled to the set ofbatteries included in the power source 508. With reference to FIG. 6, apair of electrical contact members 602 extend downward from the bottom604 of the motor subunit 114. The contact members 602 are positioned onthe bottom 604 of the motor subunit 114 to align with the electricalcontact dimples 512 of the power subunit 116 and electrically coupletherewith, upon complete rotational engagement of the power subunit 116and the motor subunit 114.

The electrical contact members 602 may be spring loaded pogo pin thattransitions between a recessed state, during which the electricalcontact members are urged into the motor subunit 114 such that themembers do not extend downward from the bottom 604 of the motor subunit114, and an extended state, during which the members 602 do extenddownward from the bottom 604 of the motor subunit 114. During initialengagement of the power subunit 116 and the motor subunit 114 and priorto complete rotational engagement of the subunits, the electricalcontact members 602 may be urged into the motor subunit 114 by the topsurface 514 of the power subunit. The urging of the electrical contactmembers 602 by the top surface 514 continues until rotational engagementof the power subunit 116 and the motor subunit 114 is complete, at whichtime the electrical contact members 602 and the electrical contactdimples 512 are aligned and the contact members spring from the motorsubunit 114 to electrically couple with the electrical contact dimples512.

When the electrical contact members 602 and the electrical contactdimples 512 are electrically coupled, an electrical connection isestablished between the power source 508 and the motor of the motorsubunit 114. Upon rotational disengagement of the power subunit 116 andthe motor subunit 114, the electrical contact members 602 and theelectrical contact dimples 512 disengage.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective illustration of the container unit 202 ofthe portable blender 200 of FIG. 2 in which the handle activation button204 is more clearly shown. FIG. 8 is an illustration of the upperportion of the container unit 202 of FIG. 7, with the lid 108 removedfrom the container body 102. With reference to FIG. 8, components of thelid 108, including an opening 702, a cap 704 for covering the opening,and a gasket 706 for providing a watertight seal between the lid 108 andthe top 120 of the container body 102, are shown, along withinterlocking members 802 of the container body 102 for engaging withcorresponding interlocking members (not shown) on the inside wall of thelid. Also shown in FIG. 8 is the tip 804 of a power safety member thatassumes an enabled state when the lid 108 is secured to the containerbody 102 (as shown in FIG. 7) and a disabled state when the lid isremoved from the container body (as shown in FIG. 8). The configurationand operation of the power safety member is further described below withreference to FIGS. 9-13.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are illustrations of the portable blender 200 of FIG. 2,from different perspectives and with the container body not shown toillustrate components that control the operation of the blender. FIGS.10A, 10B, and 10C are illustrations of components associated with thedetachable handle 110 of FIG. 2 that control the operation of theblender. FIG. 11 is an illustration of components associated with thecontainer unit 202 and the motor-power unit 208 of FIG. 2 that controlthe operation of the blender. FIG. 12 is a cross-section illustration ofthe lower region of the portable blender 200 of FIG. 2, showingcomponents that control the operation of the blender. FIG. 13 is aschematic diagram of components that control the operation of theblender.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 9A-11, the portable blender 200 includes apower activation member 902 that is an elongated structure that extendsfrom the bottom 118 of the container body 102 toward the top 120 of thecontainer body. The power activation member 902 may be formed of a metalor a rigid plastic. The power activation member 902 may be located in arecessed portion 1402 (shown in FIG. 14) of the sidewall 206 of thecontainer body 102 and positioned between the sidewall 206 of thecontainer body 102 and an insert portion 904 of the handle 110. Thepower activation member 902 is secured in place between the sidewall 206and the insert portion 904 in a manner that allows for movement of thepower activation member in the direction of the height of the containerbody. In other words, the power activation member 902 may be movedupward and downward relative to the bottom 118 and the top of 120 of thecontainer body.

In one configuration, the power activation member 902 is associated withthe handle 110 and lies within a groove 906 that is associated with thebackside 908 of the insert portion 904 of the handle, and that extendsat least partially along the length of the insert portion. As best shownin FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, retainers 922 extend outward from thebackside 908 of the handle at the sides of the groove 906. There is atleast one retainer 922 on each side of the groove 906. The retainers 922are configured to secure the power activation member 902 within thegroove 906. For example, the retainers 922 may curve slightly inwardtoward the longitudinal axis of the groove 906. Alternatively, the poweractivation member 902 may be associated with the container body 102 andlie within a groove (not shown) that is associated with the sidewall 206of the container body, and that extends at least partially along thelength of the recessed portion 1402 of the sidewall. Regardless ofwhether the power activation member 902 is associated with the handle110 or the container body 102, the groove is shaped and sized to bothhold the power activation member 902 in association with the sidewall206, while simultaneously allowing the member to move within the grooveupward and downward relative to the bottom 118 and the top of 120 of thecontainer body.

In yet another configuration, the power activation member 902 may liewithin a groove 906 extending along the backside 908 of the insertportion 904 of the handle 110, and a groove (not shown) extending alongthe sidewall 206 of the container body 102. In this case, the respectivegrooves of the handle and container body combine to define a tubularchannel shaped and sized to both hold the power activation member 902 inassociation with the sidewall 206, while simultaneously allowing themember to move within the groove upward and downward relative to thebottom 118 and the top of 120 of the container body.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 7, and 9A-13, the handle activation button204 of the handle 110 includes an extension portion 910 that terminatesin a location near the top of the insert portion 904 of the handle. Thepower activation member 902 includes a top, first end 912 thatterminates in the region of extension portion 910 of the handleactivation button 204, and a bottom, second end 922 that extends to thetop of the container base 104, where it is positioned to engage thepower push pin 402 of the container base. With the extension portion 910of the handle activation button 204, the power activation member 902,and the power push pin 402 of the container base 104 arranged in thismanner, the components may respectively, and collectively, transitionbetween an active, on state and an inactive, off state by transitioningthe handle activation button from a first state to a second state. Inthe following description, such transitioning is accomplished throughthe pressing and releasing of the handle activation button, in whichcase a first state may be a released state and a second state may be apressed state. Transitioning between first and second states may beaccomplished in different ways, e.g., through rotation, sliding, etc.,depending on the configuration of the handle activation button.

An active state may be achieved by pressing the handle activation button204. This pressing causes the extension portion 910 of the handleactivation button 204 to engage and displace the power activation member902, which in turn causes the bottom, second end 922 of the poweractivation member to engage and displace the power push pin 402, whichin turn causes the tip 408 of the power push pin to engage and displacethe power switch rod 310, which in turn causes the tip 1202 of the powerswitch rod to engage and set a power switch 1102 located on a printedcircuit board 1106 beneath the power switch rod to an on, closedposition. As shown in FIG. 13, closing the power switch 1102 mayelectrically couple the motor 1204 with the power source 508, therebyproviding power to the motor and turning the blender on. Whether poweris provided to the motor 1204 upon closing the power switch 1102 dependson whether a safety switch is 1104 is present and if present, whetherthe safety switch is open or closed. For a blender configured with asafety switch 1104, the closing of the power switch 1102 provides powerto the motor 1204 when the safety switch is closed. Details on thesafety switch 1104 and its operation are provided below. For a blenderthat does not include a safety switch 1104, the closing of the powerswitch 1102 provides power to the motor 1204.

The power switch 1102 may be a momentary switch, in which case thehandle activation button 204 is continually pressed to keep the blenderon. In this case, the portable blender may be returned to an inactivestate by releasing the handle activation button 204. This releasingcauses the extension portion 910 of the handle activation button 204,the power activation member 902, the power push pin 402, the powerswitch rod 310, and the power switch 1102 to disengage from each other,to thereby open the power switch. Opening the power switch 1102electrically decouples the motor 1204 from the power source 508, therebyremoving power from the motor and turning the blender off.Alternatively, the power switch 1102 may be a toggle switch, in whichcase the handle activation button 204 may be released after turning onthe blender, and the blender will remain on until the handle activationbutton is pressed again.

The components, e.g., the handle activation button, including itsextension portion 910, the power activation member 902, the power pushpin 402, the power switch rod 310, and the power switch 1102, thusdescribed as controlling the on/off operation of the blender may becollectively referred to as a power activation mechanism or a poweractivation controller. In this embodiment of the portable blender, thecomponents of the power activation mechanism are distributed between thecontainer unit 202 and motor-power unit 208. For example, the handleactivation button 204, including its the extension portion 910, thepower activation member 902, and the power push pin 402 may beassociated with one or more parts of the container unit 202, includingthe handle 110 and/or the container body 102, while the power switch rod310, and the power switch 1102 may be associated with one or more partsof the motor-power unit, including for example, the motor subunit 114.

The portable blender 200 may include a safety feature whereby power canonly be applied to the blender if a safety condition is met. Forexample, a safety condition may require that the lid 108 of the blenderbe secured in place on the top of the container body 102 before theblender may be turned on. To this end, the portable blender may includea power safety member 914 that is an elongated structure that extendsfrom the bottom 118 of the container body 102 toward the top 120 of thecontainer body. The power safety member 914 may be formed of a metal ora rigid plastic. The power safety member 914 may be located in therecessed portion 1402 (shown in FIG. 14) of the sidewall 206 of thecontainer body 102 and positioned between the sidewall 206 of thecontainer body 102 and the insert portion 904 of the handle 110. Thepower safety member 914 is secured in place between the sidewall 206 andthe insert portion 904 in a manner that allows for movement of the powersafety member in the direction of the height of the container body. Inother words, the power safety member 914 may be moved upward anddownward relative to the bottom 118 and the top of 120 of the containerbody.

In one configuration, the power safety member 914 is associated with thehandle 1101 and lies within a groove 916 associated with the backside908 of the insert portion 904 of the handle 110, and that extends atleast partially along the length of the insert portion. As best shown inFIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, retainers 922 extend outward from the backside908 of the handle at the sides of the groove 916. There is at least oneretainer 922 on each side of the groove 916. The retainers 922 areconfigured to secure the power safety member 914 within the groove 916.For example, the retainers 922 may curve slightly inward toward thelongitudinal axis of the groove 916. Alternatively, the power safetymember 914 may be associated with the container body 102 and lie withina groove (not shown) associated with the sidewall 206 of the containerbody 102 and that extends at least partially along the length of therecessed portion of the sidewall. Regardless of whether the power safetymember 914 is associated with the handle 110 or the container body 102,the groove is shaped and sized to both hold the power safety member 914in association with the sidewall 206, while simultaneously allowing themember to move within the groove upward and downward relative to thebottom 118 and the top of 120 of the container body.

In yet another configuration, the power safety member 914 may lie withina groove 916 extending along the backside 908 of the insert portion 904of the handle 110, and a groove (not shown) extending along the sidewall206 of the container body 102. In this case, the respective grooves ofthe handle and container body combine to define a tubular channel shapedand sized to both hold the power safety member 914 in association withthe sidewall 206, while simultaneously allowing the member to movewithin the groove upward and downward relative to the bottom 118 and thetop of 120 of the container body.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7-13, the power safety member 914 includesa top, first end 918 that extends through the top 120 of the containerbody 102 to allow for engagement of the lid 108 with the tip 806 of thepower safety member, and a bottom, second end 924 that extends to thetop of the container base 104, where it is positioned to engage thesafety push pin 410 of the container base. With the power safety member914, and the safety push pin 410 of the container base 104 arranged inthis manner, the components may respectively, and collectively,transition between an enabled state and a disabled state through theplacement and removal of the lid 108.

An enabled state may be obtained by placing the lid 108 on the top ofthe container body 102. This placing causes the lid 108 to engage anddisplace the power safety member 914, which in turn causes the bottom,second end 924 of the power safety member to engage and displace thesafety push pin 410, which in turn causes the tip 412 of the safety pushpin to engage and displace the safety switch rod 320, which in turncauses the tip of the safety switch to engage and set a safety switch1104 located on the printed circuit board 1106 beneath the safety switchrod to an enabled, closed position. Closing the safety switch 1104enables the blender for power activation. A closed safety switch 1104,in combination with a closed power switch 1102 (as described above)electrically couples the motor 1204 with the power source 508, therebyproviding power to the motor and turning the blender on. If the powerswitch 1102 is closed but the safety switch 1104 is opened, the blendercannot assume an active, on state.

The safety switch 1104 may be a momentary switch, in which case the lid108 is maintained on the container body 102 to keep the blender enabled.In this case, the portable blender may be returned to a disabled stateby removing the lid 108 from the container body 102. This removingcauses the power safety member 914, the safety push pin 410, the safetyswitch rod 320, and the safety switch 1104 to disengage from each otherto thereby open the safety switch. Opening the safety switch 1104prevents electrical coupling of the motor 1204 with the power source508.

The components, e.g., the power safety member 914, the safety push pin410, the safety switch rod 320, and the safety switch 1104, thusdescribed as controlling the enable/disable state of the blender may becollectively referred to as a power safety mechanism or a power safetycontroller. In this embodiment of the portable blender, the componentsof the power safety mechanism are distributed between the container unit202 and motor-power unit 208. For example, in the embodiment describedabove, the power safety member 914 and the power safety pin 410 areassociated with one or more parts of the container unit 202, includingthe handle 110 and/or the container body 102, while the safety switchrod 320 and the safety switch 1104 are associated with one or more partsof the motor-power unit, including for example, the motor subunit 114.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, operation of the portable blender maybe affected by an alternate activation button 318 associated with themotor subunit 114. In this case, an active state is achieved by pressingthe alternate activation button 318. This pressing causes the backsideof the alternate activation button 318 to engage and set an alternatepower switch 1206 located on the printed circuit board 1106 to anactive, closed position. Closing the alternate power switch 1206electrically couples the motor 1204 with the power source 508, therebyproviding power to the motor and turning the blender on.

The alternate power switch 1206 may be a momentary switch, in which casethe alternate activation button 318 is continually pressed to keep theblender in an active state. The portable blender may be returned to aninactive state by releasing the alternate activation button 318. Thisreleasing causes the backside of the alternate activation button 318 todisengage from the alternate power switch 1206, to thereby open thepower switch. Opening the alternate power switch 1206 electricallydecouples the motor 1204 from the power source 508, thereby removingpower from the motor and turning the blender off. In anotherconfiguration, the alternate power switch 1206 may be a toggle switch,in which case the alternate activation button 318 may be released afterturning the blender on, and the blender will remain on until thealternate activation button is pressed again.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the portable blender of FIG. 2 with thehandle 110 removed from the container body 102. While the poweractivation member 902 and power safety member 914 are shown in FIG. 14positioned on the container body 102, these components are typicallyintegrated with the handle 110, as shown and described above withreference to FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C. FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 are a seriesof illustrations of the container unit 202 depicting different stages ofremoval of the handle 110 from the container body 102. The handle 110and container body 102 are configured such that the handle may bedetached or removed from the container body. To this end, the handle 110may include at least one first attachment structure, and the containerbody 102 may include at least one second attachment structure, that isconfigured to engage with the at least one attachment structure of thehandle to thereby attach the handle to the container body. Withreference to FIGS. 9 and 14-17, in one configuration, the firstattachment structure of the handle includes a pair of rails 920 a, 920b, while the second attachment structure of the container body includesa corresponding pair of rail receptors 1404 a, 1404 b.

With reference to FIGS. 9A-10C, and further regarding the firstattachment structure of the handle 110, the insert portion 904 of thehandle 110 includes an attachment structure, e.g., a pair of rails 920a, 920 b, that projects outward from the backside 908 of the insertportion and extend along the sides of the insert portion. The rails 920a, 920 b best shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are formed to have awedged, L-shaped cross section. The rails, however, may be formed tohave other cross-section shapes.

With reference to FIG. 14, and further regarding the second attachmentstructure of the container body 102, a sidewall 206 of the containerbody includes a recessed portion 1402 extending from the bottom 118 ofthe container body toward the top 120 of the container body. A secondattachment structure, e.g., a pair of rail receptors 1404 a, 1404 b,extends along the sides of the recessed portion 1402. The rail receptors1404 a, 1404 b are shaped and sized to receive the rails 920 a, 920 b ofthe handle 110. For example, if the rails 920 a, 920 b of the handle 110are formed to have a wedged, L-shaped cross section, the rail receptors1404 a, 1404 b may be formed to have a wedged, L-shaped opening sized toreceive the t-shaped rails.

With respect to the container body 102, the recessed portion 1402 may bedescribed as having an open end 1406 at the bottom 118 of the containerbody, and a closed end 1408 at the top of the container body. As shownin FIG. 14, when the container base 104 is coupled to the container body102, the open end 1406 of the recessed portion 1402 is closed or blockedby the container base.

With reference to FIG. 15, a handle 110 may be removed from a containerbody 102 by first removing the container base 106 from the containerbody. This is done by rotating the container base 106 relative to thecontainer body 102. With additional reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, uponremoval of the container base 106, the open end 1406 of the recessedportion is exposed and the handle 110 may be detached from the containerbody 102 by pushing down on the handle in the direction of the bottom118 of the container body, and thereby sliding the rails 920 a, 920 b ofthe insert portion 904 of the handle along the rail receptors 1404 a,1404 b of the container body 102. This pushing and sliding is done untilthe insert portion 904 of the handle is completely removed from thecontainer body 102.

Attachment of the handle 110 to the container body 102 may beaccomplished in an opposite manner That is, the rails 920 a, 920 b ofthe handle 110 may be aligned with the rail receptors 1404 a, 1404 b atthe open end 1404 of the recessed portion 1402 at the bottom 118 of thecontainer body 102. The handle 110 is attached to the container body 102by sliding the handle upward toward the top 120 of the container bodyuntil the handle abuts the closed end 1408 of the recessed portion 1402and can no longer be advanced. The container base 104 is then secured tothe bottom 118 of the container body 102 to thereby close or block theopen end 1404 of the recessed portion 1402 and prevent the handle fromsliding out of the container body and thereby retain the handle 110 inplace.

In the just described configuration, the handle 110 is attached to, ordetached from, the container body 102 through an open end 1406 at thebottom of the container body. In an alternate configuration, the handle110 may be attached to, or detached from, the container body 102 throughan open end at the top 120 of the container body 102. For example, withreference to FIG. 14, the upper rim 1410 of the container body 102 maybe removable. As such, the otherwise closed end 1408 of the recessedportion 1402 of the container body 102 may be opened by removing theupper rim 1410. The handle 110 may then be inserted into, or removedfrom, the container body 102 through the opening at the top of thecontainer body.

While the foregoing describes a handle attachment configuration thatincludes rails and rail receptors, other configurations are possible.For example, the first attachment structure associated with the handlemay be a snap-fit projection, e.g. a hook shaped member extending fromthe backside of the handle, and the second attachment structureassociated with the container body may be a snap-fit receptor, e.g., ahole or notch in the sidewall of the container body, configured toreceive the snap-fit projection. In this configuration, the handle 110may be snap fitted to the container body by forcing the snap-fitprojection into the snap-fit receptor. A mechanism, e.g., a push buttonor lever, may be associated with one of the handle or container body andactivated to release the snap-fit projection from the snap-fit receptorto detach the handle from the container body.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a portable blender 1800 assembled from thecomponents of the portable blender set of FIG. 1, that includes acontainer unit 202 and a motor-power unit 208 which are detachable fromeach other, and a detachable insert 1802 in place of a handle. FIG. 19is an illustration of the portable blender set of FIG. 18 with thedetachable insert 1802 removed from the container body 102. While apower activation member 902 and a power safety member 914 are shown inFIG. 19 positioned on the container body 102, these components aretypically integrated with the backside of the insert 1802, like thehandle configuration shown and described above with reference to FIGS.10A, 10B, and 10C. The configuration of the detachable insert 1802illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 does not have an activation button.Accordingly, when the insert 1802 is attached to the container body 102,the power activation member 902 does not function to control operationof the blender. The power safety member 914, however, operates the sameas described above with reference to FIGS. 2-13. In anotherconfiguration (not shown), the insert may include an activation button,in which case power activation member 902 would operate the same asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 2-13.

Regarding the insert 1802, it is configured the same as the insertportion 904 of the handle 110 in the portable blender set of FIG. 2. Theinsert 1802 is removed from the container body in the same manner asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 15-17.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a portable blender 2000 assembled from aportable blender set having some components in common with the portableblender set of FIG. 1, and some different components. The commoncomponents include a motor subunit 2002, a container unit 2004, a bladedcontainer base 2014, and a lid 2014. Different components relative tothe portable blender set of FIG. 1, include a detachable handle 2006with a power subunit 2102. The assembled portable blender 2000 includesa container unit 2004 having a container body 2010, and a detachablehandle 2006 with a power subunit 2102 for powering the motor, and ahandle activation button 2008 for turning the blender on and off. Thecontainer unit 2004 is configured the same as the container unit 202described above for the blender of FIG. 2. Accordingly, a description ofthe container unit 2004 is not provided here and reference is madeinstead to all foregoing descriptions related to the container unit 202.Likewise, the motor subunit 2002 is configured the same as the motorsubunit 114 described for the blender of FIG. 2. Accordingly, adescription of the motor subunit 2002 is not provided here and referenceis made instead to all foregoing descriptions related to the motorsubunit 114.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are illustrations of the portable blender 2000 of FIG.20 with the container body 2010, the housing 2012 of the motor subunit2002, and a side of the handle 2006 not shown to illustrate componentsthat control the operation of the blender. FIGS. 22A and 22B areillustrations of the lower portion of the portable blender as shown inFIG. 21A but with an insert portion 2112 of the handle separated from acontainer base 2124 to more clearly show the electrical interconnectionbetween the power subunit 2102 of the handle and components of the motorsubunit 2002.

In this embodiment, the detachable handle 2006 includes the powersubunit 2012, a handle printed circuit board 2104, a first handleconductor 2106, and a second handle conductor 2108. The first handleconductor 2106 extends between the power subunit 2102 and the lowerportion 2120 of the insert portion 2112 of the handle. The second handleconductor 2108 extends between the handle printed circuit board 2104 andthe lower portion 2120 of the insert portion 2112 of the handle. Asshown in FIG. 22B, each of the handle conductors 2106, 2108 terminatesat a respective metal contact 2206, 2208 at the bottom 2214 of thehandle insert 2112. Although hidden by the power activation button 2008in FIGS. 21A and 21B, the handle printed circuit board 2104 includes apower switch 2134 and a safety switch 2136 like the switches 1102, 1104shown on the printed circuit board 1106 in FIG. 11.

As best shown in FIG. 21B, the handle activation button 2008 of thedetachable handle 2006 includes an extension 2118 that extends downwardfrom the top of the handle toward the insert portion 2112 of the handle.The extension 2118 includes a channel configured to receive a safetyswitch rod 2116. The channel and safety switch rod 2116 are respectivelysized to allow for the switch rod to slide back and forth within thechannel. The bottom end of the safety switch rod 2116 is mechanicallycoupled to a power safety member 2114. The power safety member 2114extends upward along the top portion of the container body (not shown)toward the top of the container body and has a tip 2122 that passesthrough an opening in the top of the container body. While neither thecontainer body nor opening are shown in FIG. 21B, reference is made toFIG. 8, which shows a top 120 of a container body 102 through which atip 806 of a power safety member passes. With respect to these features,the portable blender of FIGS. 21A and 21B is similarly configured.

With reference to FIGS. 20, 22A and 22B, the metal contacts 2206, 2208at the bottom 2214 of the insert portion 2112 of the detachable handlealign with corresponding electrical contacts 2202, 2204 on the top ofthe container base 2124. The electrical contacts 2202, 2204 may be, forexample, pogo pin contacts. When the detachable handle 2006 is fullyattached to the container body 2010, such as shown in FIG. 20, each ofthe metal contacts 2206, 2208 engage a respective one of the electricalcontacts 2202, 2204. Electrical connection between the electricalcontacts 2202, 2204 and the motor subunit 2002 is provided by respectiveelectrical contacts (not shown) located on the bottom 2124 of thecontainer base and the top of the motor subunit 2002. These electricalcontacts may be like the electrical contacts shown and described abovewith reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, and become engaged upon rotationalcoupling of the bottom 2124 of the container base with the top of themotor subunit 2002. Electrical connection with the motor printed circuitboard 2110 is provided by a first motor-subunit conductor 2216 and asecond motor-subunit conductor 2218 extending between the electricalcontacts at the top of the motor subunit 2002 and the motor printedcircuit board 2110.

With reference to FIGS. 21A-23, the handle activation button 2008 of thehandle 2006 may transition between an active, on state and an inactive,off state by transitioning the handle activation button from a firststate to a second state. In the following description, suchtransitioning is accomplished through the pressing and releasing of thehandle activation button, in which case a first state may be a releasedstate and a second state may be a pressed state. Transitioning betweenfirst and second states may be accomplished in different ways, e.g.,through rotation, sliding, etc., depending on the configuration of thehandle activation button.

An active state may be achieved by pressing the handle activation button2008. This pressing causes a power activation member 2132 on theunderside of the handle activation button 2008 to engage and set a powerswitch 2134 located on the handle printed circuit board 2104 to an on,closed position. The power activation member 2132 may be a rod shapedmember projecting downward from the underside of the handle activationbutton 2008. Alternatively, the power activation member 2132 may simplybe a portion of the underside surface of the handle activation button2008. As shown in FIG. 23, closing the power switch 2134 mayelectrically couple the motor 2130 with the power subunit 2102, therebyproviding power to the motor and turning the blender on. Whether poweris provided to the motor 2130 upon closing the power switch 2134 dependson whether a safety switch 2136 is present and if present, whether thesafety switch is open or closed. For a blender configured with a safetyswitch 2136, the closing of the power switch 2134 provides power to themotor 2130 when the safety switch is closed. Details on the safetyswitch 2136 and its operation are provided below. For a blender thatdoes not include a safety switch 2136, the closing of the power switch2134 provides power to the motor 2130.

The power switch 2134 may be a momentary switch, in which case thehandle activation button 2008 is continually pressed to keep the blenderon. The portable blender may be returned to an inactive state byreleasing the handle activation button 2008. This releasing causes thepower activation member 2132 on the underside of the handle activationbutton 2008 to disengage from the power switch 2134, to thereby open thepower switch. Opening the power switch 2134 electrically decouples themotor 2130 from the power subunit 2102, thereby removing power from themotor and turning the blender off. Alternatively, the power switch 2134may be a toggle switch, in which case the handle activation button 2008may be released upon turning on the blender, and the blender will remainon until the handle activation button is pressed again.

The components, e.g., the handle activation button 2008, the poweractivation member 2132, and the power switch 2134, thus described ascontrolling the on/off operation of the blender may be collectivelyreferred to as a power activation mechanism or a power activationcontroller. In this embodiment of the portable blender, the componentsof the power activation mechanism are associated with the handle 2006.

With reference to FIGS. 21A-23, as previously described, the powersafety member 2114 includes a top, first end that extends through thetop 2126 of the container body to allow for engagement of the lid 2128with the tip 2122 of the power safety member, and a lower, second endthat is mechanically coupled to the safety switch rod 2116. With thepower safety member 2114, and the safety switch rod 2116 arranged inthis manner, the components may respectively, and collectively,transition between an enabled state and a disabled state through theplacement and removal of the lid 2128.

An enabled state is obtained by placing the lid 2128 on the top of thecontainer body. This placing causes the lid 2128 to engage and displacethe power safety member 2114, which in turn causes the lower, second endof the safety switch rod 2116 to move downward, which in turn causes anupper, first end (not shown) of the safety switch rod to engage and seta safety switch 2136 located on the printed circuit board 2104 beneaththe safety switch rod to an enabled, closed position. Closing the safetyswitch 2136 enables the blender for power activation. A closed safetyswitch 2136, in combination with a closed power switch 2134 (asdescribed above) electrically couples the motor 2130 with the powersubunit 2102, thereby providing power to the motor and turning theblender on. If the power switch 2134 is closed but the safety switch2136 is opened, the blender cannot assume an active, on state.

With reference to FIG. 21B, the first end of the safety switch rod 2116may be near the top end of the extension 2118 portion of the handleactivation button 2008 and may rest in a pocket (not shown) underneaththe handle activation button. The first end of the safety switch rod2116 and the underside of the handle activation button 2008 are arrangedand configured so that they operate independent of each other. To thisend, pressing of the handle activation button 2008 will not cause thefirst end of the safety switch rod 2116 to engage and set the safetyswitch 2136 located on the printed circuit board 2104 beneath the safetyswitch rod to an enabled, closed position. Likewise, placing a lid 2128on the top of the container body, which displaces the safety switch rod2116, will not cause the power activation member 2132 on the undersideof the handle activation button 2008 to engage and set the power switch2134 located on the handle printed circuit board 2104 to an on, closedposition.

The safety switch 2136 may be a momentary switch, in which case the lid2128 is maintained on the container body to keep the blender enabled.The portable blender may be returned to a disabled state by removing thelid 2128 from the container body. This removing causes the power safetymember 2114 and the safety switch 2136 to disengage from each other tothereby open the safety switch. Opening the safety switch 2136 preventselectrical coupling of the motor 2130 with the power subunit 2102.

The components, e.g., the power safety member 2114, the safety switchrod 2116, and the safety switch 2136, thus described as controlling theenable/disable state of the blender may be collectively referred to as apower safety mechanism or a power safety controller. In this embodimentof the portable blender, the components of the power safety mechanismare associated with handle 2006.

With reference to FIGS. 22B and 23, operation of the portable blendermay be affected by an alternate activation button 2306 associated withthe motor subunit 2002. In this case, an active state may be achieved bypressing the alternate activation button 2306. This pressing causes thebackside of the alternate activation button 2306 to engage and set analternate power switch 2210 located on the printed circuit board 2110 toan active, closed position. Closing the alternate power switch 2210electrically couples the motor 2130 with the power subunit 2102, therebyproviding power to the motor and turning the blender on.

The alternate power switch 2210 may be a momentary switch, in which casethe alternate activation button 2306 is continually pressed to keep theblender in an active state. The portable blender may be returned to aninactive state by releasing the alternate activation button 2306. Thisreleasing causes the backside of the alternate activation button 2306 todisengage from the alternate power switch 2210, to thereby open thepower switch. Opening the alternate power switch 2210 electricallydecouples the motor 2130 from the power subunit 2102, thereby removingpower from the motor and turning the blender off. In anotherconfiguration, the alternate power switch 2210 may be a toggle switch,in which case the alternate activation button 2306 may be released afterturning the blender on, and the blender will remain on until thealternate activation button is pressed again.

With reference to FIGS. 20-22B, the insert portion 2112 of the handle2006 includes rails 2212 a, 2212 b like the rails described with respectto FIGS. 9A-10C. The handle 2006 is thus configured to be attached anddetached from the container body 2010 in the same manner described abovewith reference to FIGS. 14-17.

In summary, disclosed is a portable blender set that includes a handle110, 2006 having at least one first attachment structure 920 a, 2212 a,an activation button 204, 2008, and a power activation member 902, 2132positioned for mechanical engagement with the activation button and apower switch 1102, 2134. The blender set also includes a container body102, 2010 with at least one second attachment structure 1404 a, 2014.The at least one first attachment structure 920 a, 2212 a and at leastone second attachment structure 1404 a, 2014 a are configured to engageeach other to attach the handle 110, 2006 to the container body 102,2010 and to disengage each other to detach the handle from the containerbody. The blender set further includes a container base 104, 2124configured for detachable engagement with the container body 102, 2010.

In one configuration shown in FIG. 2, the blender set further includes amotor subunit 114 configured for detachable engagement with thecontainer base 104, and a power subunit 116 configured for detachableengagement with the motor subunit. In this configuration, the motorsubunit 114 includes the power switch 1102 and attachment of the handle110 through engagement of the first attachment structure 2212 a and thesecond attachment structure 2014 a positions or aligns the poweractivation member for mechanical engagement with the power switchthrough one or more mechanical structures 310, 402 of one or more of thecontainer base and the motor subunit.

In another configuration shown in FIG. 20, the blender set furtherincludes a motor subunit 2002 configured for detachable engagement withthe container base 2124, and a power subunit 2102 that is included inthe handle. In this configuration, the handle 2006 includes the powerswitch and attachment of the handle through engagement of the firstattachment structure 2212 a and the second attachment structure 2014 aestablishes an electrical engagement, e.g., interconnection, between thepower subunit 2102 and the power switch 2134 in the handle and the motorsubunit 2110.

In the foregoing specification, certain representative aspects of theinvention have been described with reference to specific examples.Various modifications and changes may be made, however, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as set forth in theclaims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather thanrestrictive, and modifications are intended to be included within thescope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the inventionshould be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents ratherthan by merely the examples described. For example, the componentsand/or elements recited in any apparatus claims may be assembled orotherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and areaccordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in theclaims.

Furthermore, certain benefits, other advantages and solutions toproblems have been described above with regard to particularembodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to a problem, orany element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage, orsolution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construedas critical, required, or essential features or components of any or allthe claims.

As used herein, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,”“having,” “including,” “includes” or any variation thereof, are intendedto reference a nonexclusive inclusion, such that a process, method,article, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements doesnot include only those elements recited, but may also include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, composition, or apparatus. Other combinations and/ormodifications of the above-described structures, arrangements,applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used inthe practice of the present invention, in addition to those notspecifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted tospecific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters,or other operating requirements without departing from the generalprinciples of the same.

Moreover, reference to an element in the singular is not intended tomean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “oneor more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refersto one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to theelements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosurethat are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill inthe art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intendedto be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether suchdisclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element isintended to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f),unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or,in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase“step for.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable blender set, comprising: a handlehaving at least one first attachment structure, an activation button,and a power activation member positioned for mechanical engagement witheach of the activation button and a power switch; and a container bodyhaving at least one second attachment structure, wherein the at leastone first attachment structure and at least one second attachmentstructure are configured to engage each other to attach the handle tothe container body, and to disengage each other to detach the handlefrom the container body.
 2. The portable blender set of claim 1,wherein: the handle has a length and the at least one first attachmentstructure comprises a rail extending at least partially along thelength, and the container body has a top, a bottom, and the at least onesecond attachment structure comprises a rail receptor extending from thebottom of the container body toward the top of the container body andhaving an opening configured to receive the rail.
 3. The portableblender set of claim 2, further comprising a container base configuredfor detachable engagement with the bottom of the container body, andconfigured to block the opening of the rail receptor when the containerbase is engaged with the container body to thereby retain the railwithin the rail receptor.
 4. The portable blender set of claim 1,wherein the at least one first attachment structure comprises a snap-fitprojection and the at least one second attachment structure comprises asnap-fit receptor configured to receive the snap-fit projection.
 5. Theportable blender set of claim 1, further comprising a container baseconfigured for detachable engagement with the container body.
 6. Theportable blender set of claim 5, further comprising: a motor subunitconfigured for detachable engagement with the container base; and apower subunit configured for detachable engagement with the motorsubunit.
 7. The portable blender set of claim 6, wherein the motorsubunit includes the power switch and attachment of the handle throughengagement of the first attachment structure and the second attachmentstructure positions the power activation member for mechanicalengagement with the power switch through one or more mechanicalstructures of one or more of the container base and the motor subunit.8. The portable blender set of claim 5, further comprising: a motorsubunit configured for detachable engagement with the container base;and a power subunit included in the handle.
 9. The portable blender setof claim 8, wherein the handle includes the power switch and attachmentof the handle through engagement of the first attachment structure andthe second attachment structure establishes an electrical engagementbetween the power subunit and the power switch in the handle and themotor subunit.
 10. The portable blender set of claim 1, furthercomprising an insert configured to attach to the container body in placeof the handle.
 11. A portable blender, comprising: a power subunit; amotor subunit; a container unit removably coupled to the motor subunit,the container unit including a container body and a detachable handleremovably coupled to the container body; a power safety mechanism atleast partially associated with the container unit, and configured totransition between an enabled state during which the blender may beturned on, and a disabled state during which the blender cannot beturned on; and a power activation mechanism at least partiallyassociated with the container unit, and configured to transition betweenan on state during which the blender in on, provided the power safetymechanism is in the enabled state, and an off state during which theblender is off.
 12. The portable blender of claim 19, wherein: the powersafety mechanism comprises a power safety member associated with thecontainer unit and having a first end and a second end, and a safetyswitch configured to transition between an open state and a closedstate, wherein the power safety member is positioned for mechanicalengagement with the safety switch at the second end and extends throughthe container unit at the first end.
 13. The portable blender of claim20, wherein the safety switch is associated with one of the motorsubunit and the container unit.
 14. The portable blender of claim 19,wherein: the power activation mechanism comprises an activation buttonassociated with the container unit, a power activation member associatedwith the container unit and having a first end and a second end, and apower switch configured to transition between an open state and a closedstate, wherein the power activation member is positioned for mechanicalengagement with the power switch at the second end and the activationbutton at the first end.
 15. The portable blender of claim 22, whereinthe power switch is associated with one of the motor subunit and thecontainer unit.